Thank you Digerati Distribution for sending us this game to review!

Vertical Drop Heroes was originally released in 2010 as a flash game.  Vertical Drop Heroes HD has been completely remade and built using the Game Maker engine.  Other than the music, this game has been done by one person.  If you’re new to the game it’s a 2D vertical platformer with randomly generated characters, levels and enemies.  If you do not like the initial characters offered you can re-roll for five gold. After you complete the initial ten levels, an infinite New Game+ becomes available.  

Before you can begin your journey, you must choose a disposable hero.  The stats, abilities, and weapons will vary from hero to hero and once they die, they are forever gone.  Be sure to pay attention to the hit points and damage a hero can do.  If they have a buckler it’s worth sacrificing some HP to get it. 

One your hero is selected you can purchase some upgrades with in-game gold or warp into the first dungeon.  There are some shrines that can be activated (at the cost of some keys and gold) that let you start at a higher level dungeon (for some gold).  The dungeons are filled with monsters, treasure chests, keys and gold coins. Healing and attack shrines are also plentiful, but can only be used once.  Sometimes you’ll come across an NPC that will reward you with gold or experience for assisting them in some matter by freeing their friends, collecting items or killing specific monsters.  Usually, when you free somebody they will help you kill nearby monsters.  

Some levels have one or more merchants that sell skills that will benefit future heroes.  Be sure to visit and buy her wares!  Some of these abilities include agility (double jumping), lock picking, counter attacks and various immunities.  With all these great abilities, it’s a bummer that the heroes are limited to only two of them.  Besides these abilities, the characters also have special attacks like the ability to launch a projectile or clone themselves.  

At the end of each level is a boss.  If you manage to take them down, you will be rewarded with experience, replenished HP and access to the next dungeon.  If you’re playing a multiplayer game and your partner dies, they will be resurrected on the next level.  If both players die, it’s back to the character selection screen.

While there is plenty to do in the single player game, there are two multiplayer modes available.  You can play split screen on one computer or play over the local network.  In order to join a game you have to know the host’s IP address.  It’s a shame there is no graphical browser for the non-techies out there.  Not everyone knows to go to the command prompt and run ipconfig.   

The split screen and single-player modes ran flawlessly for my husband and I, however the LAN mode still has some minor issues.  The client’s game appears to have a “breathing” like graphical glitch where the level tiles move up and down slowly.  While you can play Vertical Drop Heroes HD with a keyboard, it’s so much easier to play with a controller.  Occasionally you still have to strike the space bar though.  

I love the graphic style and artwork.  Many of the enemies are original, but you’ll also encounter some familiar creatures such as giant spiders and flies.  The bosses however, are big and intimidating.  One of the best attacks against them is the dwarf cannon.  

 Some levels share the same musical loops, but the background music and styles change every couple of levels.  I enjoyed the music as it set the mood nicely.  The sound effects are fitting as well.

My kids were captivated by the cartoon like graphics and colorful levels.  While there is no blood, there is plenty of magic and cartoon violence in this game.

For a mere $5, there is plenty of fun to be had in Vertical Drop Heroes HD.  With the random levels and upgradable heroes there’s a lot of re-playability.    Multiplayer is fun as well, I just hope that joining games becomes easier for kids and non-techies to do.  There are some GOG.com exclusives available and this title will be coming to Steam very soon.  Keep an eye out for it!